BATESVILLE, IN — Margaret Mary Health (MMH) is reporting more than 250 patients have been admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 over the past five months.
The vast majority or 85 percent were not vaccinated, according to the hospital. MMH recommends those who are eligible to receive a vaccine booster shot consider doing so. The hospital says this is important since emerging evidence shows vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19 infections can decrease over time due to the combination of decreasing protection as time passes since getting vaccinated as well as the greater infectiousness of the new variants.
There are currently 27 patients on the Med/Surg floor, with three of those patients in the Special Care Unit.
Fifteen of the hospital’s patients are COVID-positive. (See charts for current patient volumes)
Emergency Room volumes are still very high, resulting in much longer wait times than normal. Hospital officials said they understand this can be frustrating, but that teams are working hard and as quickly as possible to see every patient who needs care.
It is recommended for asymptomatic patients or those with mild illness to refrain from using the ER for COVID-19 testing, which is being limited in the ER to those patients most likely being admitted to the hospital.
The hospital says the number of patients testing positive has increased this week, with 33.5 percent of patients or 115 in total, testing positive for the virus. (See chart for testing details).
Those who need to be tested for COVID-19 should contact their primary care provider for an outpatient test to be completed through the hospital lab or schedule an appointment at a local testing site through coronavirus.in.gov.
Vaccine appointments for everyone ages 5 and older can be scheduled Monday through Friday at the MMH Occupational Health and Wellness Center in Batesville by calling (812) 932-5105.
Vaccine appointments can also be made Monday through Friday at the Margaret Mary Health Center in Brookville by calling (765) 647-5126.
Walk-ins are also welcome in Brookville.
